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Author's Chapter Notes:
I figured that since I wrote the beginning chapter to the sequel today that I'd celebrate and give you guys another chapter or two here ya go! Let me know what you think!
Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: Sweet Euphoria

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Nick Narrating:

I cannot believe this…Kristin and Leighanne know, and seems they’ve known for quite some time now. Shit…I guess we aren’t as sneaky as we originally thought.

Ah but hell I’m in love I don’t care.

I know this whole secret crap is getting to Lissa too. She wants to say it I know it, and from what Leigh and Kris have said that she says it before she falls asleep… after I’m already out.

Damn I’m gonna have to fake falling asleep one night just to hear it….but if I do hear it I’ll flip out. I’ve heard her say it of course to Kel and Lori seen it written in her handwriting but nothing’s like hearing “I love you” come out of the one person you want to hear it come out of most.

Hell I want to tell everyone I’m so sick of waiting for her to come around, I hate lying to the guys. They are my family, my friends. They’ve been there for me when Alyssa couldn’t be hell I owe them big time, they were there through all this tabloid bullshit that I keep ending up in whether it’s true or not. They’re my brothers for lack of a better term.

Which leads me to my actual brother….what the hell is he going to think about Alyssa and I?

He’ll be pissed off that’s for sure. I know he has absolutely no chance with her whatsoever but still the boy is in love with her…or so he’s told me on many occasions.

God I’m a terrible brother, taking the one girl he really cares about and making her mine. But she loves me I know she does. Doesn’t she get a say in who she wants to be with?

I was reading the list she made the other day which is pretty common for when I start to doubt her feelings for me. Some of the things on there are kind of funny, a little kinky, romantic….hell that pretty much describes her. The past nearly 7 months now she’s been the absolute perfect girlfriend. Feisty, and aggressive, yet not clingy and hypersensitive.

Come to think of it I’ve been the clingy one, always doing something to touch her, I’m always playing with her fingers or her hair….damn I never thought I’d ever say this but I love her hair.

Seriously it’s down to right above the small of her back in thick layers….which is why I love it when she’s on top, it flies everywhere and falls down to frame her face….that right there is just amazing. You’d have to be a guy to understand the logic but it’s something completely raw and sexy about a woman with long hair.

Sometimes I wonder though what if we didn’t go through with the pact….would we have eventually gotten to this point? I know that if we hadn’t she might not be with me, she’d probably be with Alex. They’ve got a lot in common…both had addictions they kicked….Alyssa’s was cutting herself…… But God her with someone else…I can’t even begin fathom that.

Actually she’s got a lot in common with all of us. Her and Howie workout all the time mostly running. She listens to Brian gush over Baylee singing all the old songs. Kevin and her relate about their fathers both having had cancer, and they both play the piano…which by the way hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

We got to go home for like a couple days to shoot a video and I came in from just walking around on the beach and I see her at the Steinway we got as a present from her parents, in just her bikini and board shorts. She was playing some song by Beethoven or Mozart or whoever all I know is that she was beautiful so focused on the music she didn’t even know I was there until I began clapping when she finished.

Every little thing she does makes me see how much I need her in my life. All the joy she brings, being with her is paradise, true we argue, we fight….but we eventually make up both apologizing for the stupid things we said in the heat of the moment….every good and solid relationship goes through this.

Leigh and Brian have had some knock down drag out fights in their past, hell Kevin and Kristin would fight break up and then the next day they’d make up. I know why we argue, its testing our boundaries, how far we’ll go before we’re sick of each other. Mostly it’s diffused pretty quick but sometimes, when we’re on the subject of us and what her feelings are it gets heated pretty damn fast to the point once we were screaming at each other. It scared the wits out of Kellie and Lori, they’d never seen us like that before.

But when it comes down to it as much as it frustrates me that Alyssa has difficulty in emotionally opening up to me……

She’s worth all of it and more…

End Narration

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Nick and the guys walked out of the airport and into a very bright Arizona day. It was pretty nice outside for Arizona standards at least. The guys laughed when Nick took off running when he spotted Alyssa standing with her mother, brother, and Nick’s sisters.

He dropped his bags when he got close and pulled Alyssa into a hug twirling her around a little making her laugh before setting her down and being attacked by his younger sisters. “Mary, it’s nice to see you.” He said politely pulling her into a hug.

“Honey we missed you so much here.” She answered back smiling brightly.

He smiled back feeling immediately at home going over to Alyssa as they smiled at each other. All the guys walked up laughing at the scene before them. Leighanne and Kristin both looking at Alyssa and Nick and how they interacted with each other. He leaned over whispering in her ear, “I missed you.”

Alyssa smiled whispering back, “Missed you too…you don’t know how much.”

“Ok kids everyone ready to head out of here?” Mary asked.

Alyssa smiled, “Yeah girls get in the car, I’m driving, tall people in front only.” She said with a laugh her and Nick being the tallest ones.

“Alyssa dear?”

“Yeah Mom?”

Mary smiled at her daughter, “When you get back to the house will you go over to Jenna’s she said she had a recipe book for your father and I hadn’t had the chance to stop by.”

“Yeah sure mom, see ya at home.” Alyssa said getting into her father’s Durango.

“All right everyone Clark is almost finished loading up all the bags and we’ll be off.”

Kristin smiled, “SO what’s the sleeping arrangements?" She asked hoping that they would have enough room. They all piled into the conversion van/camper.

“Well Kevin and Brian and Leighanne and Baylee and you get the two bedroom guest house for some privacy if you want. Nick’s sisters get the guest bedroom. Howie, Alex and Aaron get the biggest room the game room the couches in there are huge and really comfortable. Lori and Clark are in Clarks’ room, Olivia and Angela are in her room, and Alyssa and Nick are in her room.” Mary explained while Clark drove them.

“You aren’t worried that something might happen between Ali and Nick?” Brian asked.

Mary smiled and turned in her seat to face them, “Trust me if you want any sleep at all you’ll want them in the same room. We used to separate them but they’d always turn on all the lights and stay up for hours talking, and laughing, at least if they’re in the same room they won’t wake everyone up. Besides I trust that he respects my daughter enough that nothing will happen.” Mary replied smiling. Kristin and Leighanne exchanged knowing glances smiling at each other.

Meanwhile….

“Alright you four, Nick and I are going to go to Jenna’s for a few you go help my dad with the barbecue ok?” Alyssa shouted as the girls ran into the house. Alyssa turned to Nick smiling a little as they walked over to Jenna’s place next door ringing the bell.

“Hey, you two come on in.” Jay answered brightly as he opened the door letting them both in.

“Jenna home?”

Jay smiled, “Yeah she’s out back come on.” He replied leading them through the home to the back patio seeing Jenna at the bar mixing drinks.

“HEY!” She shouted when she saw who had walked in. She hurried over pulling Nick into a small hug. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, damn kid you look good.” Jenna stated making him blush a little.

Alyssa smiled pulling Jenna off to the side for a second, “Hey where’s that recipe book for my dad?”

Jenna smiled, “It’s in the kitchen on the shelf with all the other cookbooks it’s for Cajun cooking.”

“Ok, and ummm I need a favor….”Alyssa said looking around for a second.

Jenna looked at her a little concerned, “What is it honey?”

Alyssa looked over seeing Nick talking with Jay and turned back to Jenna, “Can I borrow a guest room for a little while?” She asked.

Jenna looked over at Nick smiling a little knowing what Alyssa was hinting at, “Still hiding it from all of them I see.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes, “Please Jen I promise not to make too much of a mess.”

Jenna laughed, “Ok be as loud as you want Jay knows. Just don’t take too long or they’ll get suspicious but I’ll try to cover for you.” She stated as Alyssa pulled her into a hug thanking her before walking over to Nick taking his hand leading him inside the house and up the stairs.

“What was that about?” Jay asked smiling at his wife.

Jenna laughed, “They missed each other.”

Meanwhile Alyssa led Nick up the stairs coming to the first spare bedroom she found opening it pushing him inside. She turned and shut the door knowing that Jenna wouldn’t walk in unless it was an emergency.

Alyssa turned around to see Nick staring at her. She walked over to him slipping out of her flip-flops and taking off her polo shirt as he did the same, she smiled at him before pulling him to her leaning up and kissing him slowly realizing how much she missed him as he pressed her up against the wall.

She ran her hand on his shoulder blade feeling something plastic breaking the kiss to look at him strangely. “What is that thing on your back?” She asked a little concerned.

He laughed a little, “I quit smoking…”

Her eyes lit up at his statement…true he’d never smoked around her but she hated it nonetheless. “Seriously?" She asked.

“Yeah I know you hated it and I only did it when I was stressed out.” He replied giving her a small kiss. She broke away a minute later and smiled at him unbuckling his belt and undoing his jeans slipping them off with his boxers in one swift tug. He stepped out of them as he unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the floor as his other hand disappeared under her jean skirt. She threw her head back not caring the loud noise she made when the back of her head collided with the wall. He quickly got her skirt off and lifted her up against him as they kissed carrying her to the bed in the room laying her carefully on it not breaking the kiss. He trailed his kisses down her neck to her chest as he moved hand to gently graze across her, her back arching against him. “God I almost forgot how good your skin tastes.” He mumbled against her skin.

She whimpered as he withdrew his hand only to replace it with his mouth making her squeal in delight. He looked up at her as he moved his hands to grip her hips laughing a little to himself at how he’d have to hold her still sometimes. Alyssa began to shake a little that familiar feeling she’d become so accustomed to beginning to wash over her as she sighed his name. When she felt him begin again only at a different angle she pulled at him to look up at her, “We have time for that later…”

He smiled a little and moved up her body to kiss her as her hand wound around him guiding him exactly where she wanted him. A sigh of relief came from both of them as he slid in. Nick gathered her close as their eyes locked and began to move slowly almost too slow. Alyssa raked her nails down his back just hard enough to motivate him to go faster but not hard enough to leave marks.

He leaned down kissing her as she smiled into the kiss making him smile back at her as they began to move faster.

Meanwhile….

Mary walked out on to the front porch seeing Nick’s siblings but no sign of Alyssa or Nick anywhere. “Honey have you seen them?” She asked Jamie.

“Nope, the girls said that they were going over to Jenna’s.”

Mary smiled, “I’ll go over and check on em then.” She replied walking over the yard and up to Jenna’s front door ringing the bell.

Jay opened the door smiling warmly, “Hey Mary what’s going on?” He said brightly.

“Oh nothing just wondering where my daughter is Jenna dragging her all over the house to show her all her new clothes and things?”

Jay smiled a little bigger, “Yeah you know my wife, shopping queen…I’ll send them back over for you.”

“Thanks just tell them dinner is almost ready.” Mary replied saying goodbye as she walked back over to her house climbing up the steps to door.

Simultaneously Jenna ran up the stairs to the guest bedroom having heard Jay and Mary’s conversation. She flung the door open seeing them just finishing getting dressed. “Where’s the fire?” Alyssa asked laughing a little.

Jenna rolled her eyes, “Your mother just came over looking for you, thankfully Jay covered and said I was showing you some of my new clothes.” She laughed a little seeing them, hair all mussed clothes disheveled. “And by the way go to the mirror before you leave and fix the bed head or everyone will know.” She remarked causing Alyssa to blush a little.

Alyssa went over to the mirror running a hand through her long and tangled tresses. As Nick did the same just without the mirror, “Thanks for covering…”

Jenna smiled, “Well you know anytime you two need some time ‘alone’ come on over. I have one stipulation though…”

Alyssa slipped on her shoes and walked over to them, “And that would be?”

“You have to tell everyone…before you leave Arizona.” Jenna stated smirking a little handing Alyssa the cookbook that Jameson had asked for..

Alyssa rolled her eyes, “You know that might not be a problem….but we’ll see ok?”

“Ok hon, come on over tomorrow alright?”

“Sure.” Alyssa smiled as Nick passed them going outside to the front yard. Alyssa followed not long after as they went to the side gate leading to the backyard. They walked over seeing the guys and Nick’s siblings, along with Leighanne, Baylee, and Kristin all sitting around joking with Alyssa’s family.

“Nice to see that you two decided to make an appearance!” Jameson called out to them the first to notice their presence.

Alyssa laughed, “Here Dad that cookbook you wanted from Jenna.” Nick took the last chair around the table. Alyssa walked over noticing there weren’t any chairs left she went to go inside and get another when Nick grabbed her wrist and pulled her to sit across his legs and wrapped an arm around her waist. She shot him a glare and tried to get up, which only made him tighten his grip around her waist. “Nick! Come on let me up will ya?”

“Why?” He said smirking at her.

She glared at him even more, “Because I want a chair of my own thank you.” She stated finally wriggling out of his hold.

“See I told ya she wants me bro!” Aaron shouted cackling.

Alyssa rolled her eyes, “Not in this life kid.” She shot back as she went inside grabbing a chair and pulling it up in between AJ and Nick.

“Aaron seriously if she’s gonna date anyone she’d date me.” AJ replied putting an arm around Alyssa’s shoulders.

Nick shot him a glare and Alyssa looked at them both and started laughing, “Guys stop it ok?”

“Aww I’m just stating a fact.” AJ retorted.

“What makes you think I’d date you Alex?” She shot back.

AJ feigned shock, “Shot down!” Kevin added.

“Damn straight.” Alyssa said causing everyone to crack up.

Later that night...

“Is it just me or did my parents look a little suspicious at us?” Alyssa asked as she walked into her bedroom from her small bathroom with her toothbrush still in her mouth.

“A little.” Nick looked over at her laughing a little as she disappeared into the bathroom again. He looked through her CD collection that she never went anywhere without. He pulled out one of her favorite CDs popping into her little boom box she had in her room. She came out of the bathroom smiling at him as he pulled her close swaying softly to the music.

‘Sweet Euphoria mine is the heart you own. You lost the grace of the hands that harmed you, in the daze of a thousand yawns. Lost my love, as it is I'm truly gone. In your morning I will sleep.’

“This should be our song….” Alyssa stated randomly.

He looked down and smiled at her, “And why is this one so different than the other 10 thousand you say should be our song?”

She looked up smiling a little, “Because it describes us. Listen to the lyrics…” She replied and began to sing the lyrics under her breath…

‘And in your aching hour, time wilts like flowers. Sleeping on land-mine pillows. Tired angels save my love for the lasting one. Sweet Euphoria mine is the heart you stole. Touched and broken are the things you love. Using stars to light your candles. Warms my face but I can't remember yours. Gone are your dandelions falling like mine. Falling like daydream mangos. Diving swallows. Save my love. Save my love. Save my love for the lasting one. Sweet euphoria.’(**)

The song began to fade away as they reluctantly pulled apart. Alyssa moved to her bed turning down the comforter and sheets. “Alright explain to me how that song describes us?” He asked as he sat down on the bed facing her as she did the same.

She rolled her eyes, “The song is like a poem that describes two people who are together and in their relationship they have many painful trials. That describes us. All the pain we’ve went through during our friendship and now that we’re together we’ve seen our fair share of fights and now that my dad’s sick again it’s kind of a no brain-er.”

He thought a moment, “Damn I never thought of it that way. Sure we’ve been through hell and back but that’s what friends are there for. Friends are for the hard times to have someone whose got your back.”

“I know, but I think all that we’ve been through has been a catalyst for what we have now.”

He looked at her laughing a little bit at her insightfulness, “Since when did you become ‘Miss Relationship Genius’??”

“I’ve always been that way you just never noticed.” She shot back.

(**) Sweet Euphoria by Chris Cornell